Russian Diesel Tanker Heads to US Under Trump-Putin Deal

A tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel is reportedly en route to New York, according to shipping data from LSEG cited by Reuters. The delivery is part of a deal between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at lowering diesel prices before the US midterm elections on November 3. The Maltese-flagged tanker "Agioi Fanendes" was loaded with low-sulfur diesel on October 22 at the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk and is expected to arrive in the US on November 7. Russia agreed to lift its self-imposed diesel export ban, with Trump announcing that Russia would initially export 300,000 tons, followed by 500,000 tons in November and one million tons shortly after. The planned volumes are minimal compared to US demand, which stands at 2.94 million tons per day in the transport sector alone. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia could increase diesel exports to its usual three to three-and-a-half million tons per month by year-end, though Russia has primarily exported diesel to Brazil, Turkey, and African countries since the EU embargo in February 2023.